Am I stupid..hmmm

[pnw218 14]

Are leaks actually caused by overeating or are they just something that happens???

My guess would be yes and yes. From what I have read, the risk of a leak goes down tremendously after the first 7 days. So you are pretty darn safe! :svengo:

After that point, it would seem to be a very unfortunate instance of a weakness in the stomach seam or extensive over eating. I really don't get the overeating tho, just on personal experience that even a bite or two too much causes great discomfort.

Relax and enjoy the ride. There are plenty of other things to worry about.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

When I was first sleeved, I had a really hard time telling when I was full. If I ate until I was full, I felt like I was going to burst 20 min later and it was very uncomfortable for at least an hour.

I learned to stop before I felt full. Honestly, if you could break a staple or develop a leak from overeating, I would have done it.It hurt so bad to be that full, but I did learn to stop way before that feeling.

Eating with the sleeve is a learning experience.

[ouroborous 519]

I figure that for the first 4-6 weeks, I'm not going to eat much. Just enough to "keep body and soul together" and get my Protein in. That plus the hydration will be enough to keep me busy!

After 6 wks, my surgeon says, your stomach has >90% of its original structural strength, so the risk of actually HURTING yourself from overeating is much lower. I'm WAY more worried about leaks and injury than I am about not getting in that one last bite...

[stcyt 15]

Okay... I'll settle down. I love this forum, I would be so freaked out right now if I couldn't bounce this stuff off someone.

BTW.... I went to lunch with friends today and had some blond ale smoked gouda Soup. It went down like a dream and I felt so normal. Its weird how those huge portions arnt even appealing any more.

[Tiffykins 673]

There's several members on OH that have reported leaks out much further out than the 4-6 weeks with VSG and RNY. Grant it, they had some slight symptoms, but not the big red flag waving symptoms.

One patient was 4 months out (it took this particular patient almost 1 year to heal and 5 other surgeries), and the other was 7 months out.

You can search the members profiles if you would like their screen names, I will share the 2 that I have bookmarked via PM. I'm not going to blast their names all over this forum because it's just inconsiderate. Or, you can go to OH, and use the search feature with "leaks months out" or "vsg leaks later". The stories are out there, you just have to be willing to find them, and you'd be surprised at what you find.

I told Tiffany this via PM, and the only reason I did not want to share this out here is because people will freak out. But, it's a fact that it can and has happened. I know it sounds preachy or whatever, but that is why I think it's so absolutely ridiculous to advance the post-op diet more quickly than prescribed by your surgeon. Grant it, I realize they are not gods, but my thought process is that they've been doing this stuff a lot longer than I have been, and well, I probably should trust their experience since I trusted them to excise 85% of stomach out of my body. For me, it's a pretty simple concept, but hey others have done and haven't had any issues. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

[imagine.dream.inspire 0]

It sounds like you're doing great! From my understanding, the 2oz/15 minutes "rule" meant you need to drink at least 2 oz. every fifteen minutes or you would not be able to get the full 64oz. in at the beginning. I wouldn't worry about drinking too much so long as it's not uncomfortable. :thumbup1:

My post-op paperwork mentions sipping every 10 minutes to get in your daily Fluid requirement but it also lists (during phase 1 & 2) that one should not consume more than 2 oz during a 15 minute period. It lists this twice. This is why I was asking if drinking more than 2 oz would cause issues with my new stomach.

[Swiftflow 6]

To steal a phase from another trade, "measure twice eat once" :thumbup1: I mean that extra bit you may cram in is just not worth it. My surgeons office did specifically say that slight overeating putting a tug on the suture line will make it take longer to heal. Imagine if you had a cut on your arm even with stitches on the cut and you pulled at both sides of it three to four times a day pulling the skin and stretching the cut--do you think it would heal the same as if you did not put any unnecessary pressure on it?

If you do things right the first 6 weeks you are more likely to get a fully healed suture line.

Edited April 30, 2010 by Swiftflow

[MidwestGirl 8]

My post-op paperwork mentions sipping every 10 minutes to get in your daily Fluid requirement but it also lists (during phase 1 & 2) that one should not consume more than 2 oz during a 15 minute period. It lists this twice. This is why I was asking if drinking more than 2 oz would cause issues with my new stomach.

Sorry, I misunderstood your question! My dietitian never told me that. I would say go with what your surgeon says, or perhaps call him?

[Barbara278 9]

You need to be measuring at the beginning. It's to hard to tell when you are full. And my full feeling at the beginning was very different than it is now. I couldn't really tell I was full until I felt it in my throat and that was not eating more than 2 oz. Now I get the normal tummy full feelings. Measure everything in the beginning and don't eat more than 2ozs if that's what your doc says. Why chance injuring yourself and your sleeve?

Edited April 30, 2010 by Barbara278

[thinoneday 445]

Its hard to figure out when i'm full. I know my stomach is tight.... but its always tight. Its so easy to over do it. I know there is a danger point around 21 days out. I guess thats when the stitches or glue disolve. If I make it to 30 days I'm callin it good!!!!!

I have come to learn (very quickly) that if my tummy starts to squeeze a bit i had better stop stuffing food into it because in the beginning i would think "oh just one more bite" yeah right! that one more bite certainly bit me back. . I was in 'god call me an ambulance" pain for about 20 - 30 minutes with the slimes and everything. . . now if i feel the slight squeeze after a couple bites i stop right then and there i really hate that squeezy feeling. . . i also have found that "hard" food doesn't agree very well, like toast, crackers, sausage, fruit, certain vegatables, etc. . . so i like to stay with my soft stuff, yogurt, cheese, very well cooked rice and mac/cheese, eggs, etc. . . i'm such a baby. . . hehehe:001_tt2:

Edited April 30, 2010 by thinoneday

[Dee 39]

Soo glad I read this..been really struggling with wanting to overeat (old habits die hard!) yesterday I managed to eat way too much. I just wanted more and more....Need to refocus..the fact is I am an overeater....After reading I could develop a leak 4 months out YIKES....Thank you Tiff for posting this!!

I have thrown up twice once after eating tuna fish (sooooo gross...)

Back to basics Protein first (been carb eating comfort)

Love this sleeve, without this forum I would be lost!

Dee

[happyslvr 2]

There's several members on OH that have reported leaks out much further out than the 4-6 weeks with VSG and RNY. Grant it, they had some slight symptoms, but not the big red flag waving symptoms.

One patient was 4 months out (it took this particular patient almost 1 year to heal and 5 other surgeries), and the other was 7 months out.

You can search the members profiles if you would like their screen names, I will share the 2 that I have bookmarked via PM. I'm not going to blast their names all over this forum because it's just inconsiderate. Or, you can go to OH, and use the search feature with "leaks months out" or "vsg leaks later". The stories are out there, you just have to be willing to find them, and you'd be surprised at what you find.

I told Tiffany this via PM, and the only reason I did not want to share this out here is because people will freak out. But, it's a fact that it can and has happened. I know it sounds preachy or whatever, but that is why I think it's so absolutely ridiculous to advance the post-op diet more quickly than prescribed by your surgeon. Grant it, I realize they are not gods, but my thought process is that they've been doing this stuff a lot longer than I have been, and well, I probably should trust their experience since I trusted them to excise 85% of stomach out of my body. For me, it's a pretty simple concept, but hey others have done and haven't had any issues. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.

Tiffy this is why I LOVE bouncing stuff off you.

You seriously are a wealth of knowledge!!!

:thumbup:

[stcyt 15]

Hey Tiff,

Thanks for sharing the good and the bad. Yes.... it freaks me out a bit, but its certainly info we all need.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I should probably add that the times I felt over full were way past the post op diet phase. I followed the post op diet to the letter, and stayed on mushies and liquids longer than I was supposed to just because it was more comfortable.

[Joolzabug 0]

Has anyone ever heard of the "deep breath" rule of feeling full? As you are eating, there will be some point at which you take a deep, comfortable breath and sort of sigh as it's released. That is your body telling you that you have reached the full point. I've been watching for that signal since being sleeved, and had good luck with not over eating.